"Standard" 19" PC monitor is DARK

[Mugzilla]

About 4 years ago, I bought a CompUSA "White Box Special" 19", .25 pitch monitor.

I have used it with 2 different computers, and 3 different video cards.

It is DARK. I have the brightness cranked!!! I have to go into my videocard setup stuff and crank the gamma up to make it usable! I have thought for a long time that this is just an annoyance that I'll need to live with. All is not well, because SOME programs default to the normal gamma setting, and make it VERY hard to see what is on the screen.

#1 Is this normal? When I take my computer over to a friends place and use a monitor there, I have to dial my gamma way down.

#2 Is there a way to fix this?

[SirPeale]

Open the case.   Look for the flyback.  There should be two pots on it.  FOCUS is one, and SCREEN is the other.

You'll need to do this ON and CONNECTED to your computer.  Very slowly start turning up the SCREEN control, until it is bright enough that you're happy.  Put the case back on.

That's it!

[Mugzilla]

Open the case.   Look for the flyback.  There should be two pots on it.  FOCUS is one, and SCREEN is the other.

You'll need to do this ON and CONNECTED to your computer.  Very slowly start turning up the SCREEN control, until it is bright enough that you're happy.  Put the case back on.

That's it!

I have worked on energized equipment before. But NEVER on an energized monitor.

Do you have a picture of a  standard looking flyback? Google image search came up with a few, but nothing big enough to see, and none where I could locate the pots...

[SirPeale]

It's a PC monitor, yes?  Just take off the back of the case.  Put the monitor on the floor.  Plug it in to the the computer and mains, just like you'd usually do.

Now look on the back, you'll see a thick cord going from the tube back towards the flyback.  You can't miss it.  Once you get it apart you'll see what I'm talking about.  You'll be like "Duh!  That's easy."

Seriously, although monitors can be dangerous, just don't do something stupid with them and you'll be fine.  Like don't jam your fingers in amongst the circuits.  Don't try to take the anode off the monitor while it's running.  In fact, don't play with the anode at all, you're just doing a simple flyback adjustment.

After you get your monitor looking the way you want, turn off the monitor and unplug it.  Then put the case back on.

[MonitorGuru]

See this picture below. Look at the black flyback in the upper left. The two knobs on it are readable. The top says FOCUS the bottom says SCREEN.

First turn contrast to about center, and brightness ALL THE WAY UP.    Then adjust the screen higher until it gets to the brightness level you want.  If you go too far, the screen will become light grey (instead of black background) and you will see what are called "retrace lines". Back it back down a bit until these retrace lines disappear.  They are diagonal lines that don't normally appear in the pic.

If you are worried about touching the plastic controls on the flyback don't worry. Just don't touch anything else, including things that "appear" to be the ground (e.g. NO METAL). They likely are on a computer monitor, but never assume.  If you are worrried, you can use a glove and a philips screwdriver with masking tape over all but the last 1/8" of the tip.  This way even if you drop the screwdriver you won't be as likely to short something out.



Image URL if it doesn't direct link: http://www.fistells.com/catalog/NTE%20Flybaxs/NTE%20Flyback.jpg

[Superdude]

Will this work on Arcade Monitors as well?

[MonitorGuru]

Yes, of course. Turning the screen up is the easiest way to amplify a low powered computer VGA output (.7 volt) to the 4-5 volt range required by an arcade monitor.

For those of you interested in the other control ,if your picture is out of focus, play with the focus control too.  Focus will work by one way of "perfect" shifting the picture horizontally blurring it, and on the other side of "perfect" shift it more vertically.  Just wiggle it back and forth until you don't notice it "blooming" left to right or up to down and find that sweet spot in the center. (Usually it's a bit wide sweet spot to the human eye.. don't worry about getting it 100% exact, you'll drive yourself crazy trying to center it, and it will of course vary a bit based on how long it's on/etc..)


Note: For arcade monitors, the focus/screen controls MAY NOT BE directly on the flyback housing, but either a separate control mounted immediately next to it, or off to the side. But it's very easy to spot.. a large plastic facing with 2 philips screws with thick red (or sometimes black) wire(s) going out of it up to the neck board.

[Mugzilla]

Anyone in the Pittsburgh area? I really don't feel like doing the "60 Hertz Shuffle" when I crack open my monitor...

Lunch will be on me!

[SirPeale]

Anyone in the Pittsburgh area? I really don't feel like doing the "60 Hertz Shuffle" when I crack open my monitor...

Lunch will be on me!

I swear man, once you get it open, it'll be cake.  Just do it.  

[Superdude]

Thanks guys! Worked like a charm for me for one of my older monitors.  I guess no cap kit was needed!